This document summarizes the morphology of the maxillary central and lateral incisors. It describes the labial, lingual, mesial, distal, and incisal surfaces of the central incisor including developmental grooves, lobes, and cervical curvature. Dimensions are provided. The central incisor is the widest anterior tooth and has the most pronounced mesial cervical curvature. Eruption timing and root development are also outlined. For the lateral incisor, it notes they are smaller than centrals and have more rounded mesioincisal and distoincisal angles, as well as more prominent marginal ridges and cingulum lingually.

1. MORPHOLOGYMORPHOLOGY
OFOF
Maxillary IncisorsMaxillary Incisors

2. Contents
 Morphology of Permanent Maxillary Central Incisor
 Chronology and dimensions of Maxillary Central Incisor
 Brief morphology of Maxillary Lateral Incisor
Objectives
 Identification of maxillary incisors from other teeth
 Understand the morphology of maxillary central and
lateral incisor
 Distinguish between the labial, lingual, mesial, distal and
incisal surfaces of the maxillary incisors
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3. Introduction
Maxillary incisors are four in number
Maxillary central incisor and lateral are similar in
anatomy and complement each other in function
Their major function is to cut food
Maxillary central incisor erupts between the age of 7
and 8 and it is the second permanent tooth to erupt
Maxillary lateral incisor erupts between the age of 8
and 9
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4. Maxillary Central Incisor
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5. Labial aspect
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6. Labial aspect
 The mesial margin is straight and meets the incisal
edge at right angle. The distal margin is shorter and
more rounded.
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Mesial margin
straight
Distal margin
shorter &
rounded

7.  The distoincisal angle is more rounded than the
mesioincisal angle.
Distoincisal
angle more
rounded
Mesioincisal
angle rounded
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8.  The labial surface is marked by two developmental
groove and has convexity in cervical third.
Convexity in
cervical third a b
a & b: Developmental depressions
1,2 & 3: Lobes (4th
lobe not visible)
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9.  Maxillary central incisor is the widest anterior tooth
mesiodistally
Widest anterior teeth
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10. Lingual aspect
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11. Lingual aspect
 The crown profile is same as that of labial surface
except that there is a broad depression in the central
portion called the lingual fossa and a well developed
cingulum.
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Lingual fossa
Cingulum
Marginal
ridges
Lingual ridge

12. Dr.Syed Sadatullah King Khalid University
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 The lingual fossa is bordered by mesial and distal
marginal ridges on the sides and the cingulum
cervically.
 The cervical line on labial and lingual surface is
convex apically.
Cervical line
convex
Lingual aspectLabial aspect

13. Dr.Syed Sadatullah King Khalid University
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Mesial aspect

14. Mesial aspect
 From the mesial aspect the labial margin is convex
 The lingual margin is ‘S’ shaped, being convex near
cingulum and concave in the middle
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Labial margin
convex
Convex near
cingulum
Concave in the
middle

15.  Mesial curvature of cervical line (3.5mm) is the most
pronounced compared to any other tooth.
 The cervical line on the mesial and distal surface is
convex incisally
Cervical line
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16. Dr.Syed Sadatullah King Khalid University
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Distal aspect
Distal aspect
 Distal surface is very similar to the mesial surface.

17. Incisal aspect
 The crown and incisal margin are centered over root
 Crown profile is almost bilaterally symmetrical
 The incisal margin of newly erupted teeth show three
elevations called mamelons. They correspond to the
developmental lobes
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18. Dr.Syed Sadatullah King Khalid University
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Incisal ridge
Incisal aspect
Bilaterally symmetrical

19. Root
The root is straight and tapers from the cervical line to
the apex giving it a conical shape
The root ends in a blunt apex.
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Straight conical
blunt root

20. 3.5 2.56.07.07.08.513.010.5
Curvature of
Cervical Line
M D
Labiolingual
Diameter at
Cervical Line
Labiolingual
Diameter at
Crest of Curvature
Mesiodistal
Diameter at
Cervical Line
Mesiodistal
Diameter at
Contact Area
Root
Length
Crown
Length
Average Dimensions in millimeters
Contact Area
Max C.I
Mesial Distal
I3 JIM3
I3- Incisal third
JIM3-Junction of incisal &
middle third
CHRONOLOGY
Appearance of enamel organ 5 m.i.u
First evidence of calcification 3-4 months
Crown completion 4-5 years
Eruption 7-8 years
Root completion 10-11 years
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21. Dr.Syed Sadatullah King Khalid University
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Maxillary Lateral Incisor
 The general shape is similar to maxillary central
incisors except that they are shorter and narrower.
 Next to third molars maxillary lateral incisors are
the teeth that show most variation in crown size,
shape and form
Maxillary central incisor bigger
and lateral incisor smaller

22.  The mesioincisal and distoincisal angles are more
rounded than the corresponding angles of the
maxillary central incisor
Distoincisal
angle more
rounded
Mesioincisal
angle more
rounded
Maxillary Lateral Incisor
Maxillary Central Incisor
Mesioincisal
angle
Distoincisal
angle
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23.  On the lingual aspect the marginal ridges and cingulum
are more prominent
Prominent
cingulum
Prominent
marginal ridges
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24. Labial aspect Lingual aspect
Mesial aspect Distal aspect
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